The RCGA changed the terminology of "Handicap Index" to "Handicap Factor" in 2000. Handicap Factor is the same as Handicap Index for RCGA/GAO members. For further information, please contact the RCGA at 905-849-9700 or visit www.rcga.org.

The Handicap Formula 

Before getting to the actual Handicap Factor formula itself, we must understand the elements it is comprised of. Listed below are the factors which help make up the formula and a description of each.

Adjusted Gross Score
Adjusted gross score is a player's gross score adjusted under RCGA Handicap System procedures for unfinished holes, conceded strokes and holes not played, or not played under the principles of the Rules of Golf, or adjusted under Equitable Stroke Control. (See Section 4-3 of the RCGA Handicap System Manual.)

Handicap Differential 

A handicap differential is the difference between a player's adjusted gross score and the RCGA Course Rating of the course on which the score was made, multiplied by 113, then divided by the RCGA Slope Rating from the tees played and rounded to the nearest tenth. Handicap differentials are expressed as a number rounded to one decimal place, (i.e. 12.8).

Handicap Factor 

An RCGA Handicap Factor is used to indicate a measurement of a player’s potential scoring ability on a course of standard playing difficulty. It is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place and is used for conversion to a Course Handicap. (See Section 10 of the RCGA Handicap System Manual.)

Course Handicap 

A Course Handicap is the number of handicap strokes a player receives from a specific set of tees at the course being played to adjust their scoring ability to the level of scratch or 0-handicap golf. For a player with a plus Course Handicap, it is the number of artificial strokes the player gives to adjust their scoring ability to the level of scratch or 0-handicap golf. A Course Handicap is determined by applying the player's RCGA Handicap Factor to a Course Handicap Table or Course Handicap Formula. (See Section 10-4.) A player's Course Handicap is expressed as a whole number of strokes.

Course Handicap Table 

A Course Handicap Table is a chart that converts an RCGA Handicap Factor to a Course Handicap based on the RCGA Slope Rating for the set of tees played. (See Sections 3-3, 8-2d and 10-4.)

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) 

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential scoring ability. ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player's Course Handicap. ESC is used only when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds his maximum number based on the table in Section 4-3 of the RCGA Handicap System Manual.

Note: In other countries, the system of ESC may be different than the RCGA system, ( i.e. in the U.S. - USGA courses). When a score is made under a system of ESC different to the RCGA ESC system, that score must be adjusted to the RCGA ESC system before it is entered as an adjusted gross score under the RCGA Handicap System. It is imperative that a player's gross score be adjusted prior to posting for handicap purposes.

a) Reduction of hole scores, for handicap purposes only, in accordance with the formula below, is called Equitable Stroke Control. Each gross score must be adjusted by the player in accordance with the ESC formula before it is returned for handicap purposes.

b) A score for any hole is reduced to a specified number of strokes over par, for handicap purposes only, as follows:

Equitable Stroke Control Chart 

Example: If you are a 30 handicap, you can only post triple bogeys. If your gross score was 100 and you had a quadruple bogey, you would post a score of 99 for handicap purposes.
c) Scores that include reasonable conceded putts are acceptable and should be recorded, except the ESC shall apply when the score exceeds that allowed by the formula.

A Handicap Factor determined from scores to which ESC has not been applied may not be termed an RCGA Handicap Factor.
Under no circumstances shall the procedures of this section be used by a player to manipulate his/her Handicap Factor. If a player uses this section for such purposes, his Handicap Factor shall be adjusted or revoked by the Handicap Committee under Section 8-4 of the RCGA Handicap System Manual.

We are now prepared for the actual formula itself. Below is an excerpt from Section 10 of the RCGA Handicap System Manual.

A RCGA Handicap Factor is a number that represents the potential scoring ability of a player on a course of standard difficulty. Potential scoring ability is measured by a player's best scores, and is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place. These scores are identified by calculating the handicap differential for each score. The RCGA Handicap Factor is calculated by taking 96 percent of the average of the best handicap differentials, and applying Section 10-3 for golfers with two or more eligible tournament scores.

10-1. How to Determine Handicap Differentials 

A Handicap Differential is computed from four elements: adjusted gross score, RCGA Course Rating, RCGA Slope Rating and 113 (the Slope Rating of a course of standard difficulty). To determine the handicap differential, subtract the RCGA Course Rating from the adjusted gross score; multiply the difference by 113; then divide the resulting number by the RCGA Slope Rating. Round the final number to the nearest tenth.

Handicap Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score - RCGA Course Rating) x 113 divided by the RCGA Slope Rating

a. Plus Handicap Differential
When the adjusted gross score is higher than the RCGA Course Rating, the handicap differential is a positive number. Following is an example for determining a differential using an adjusted gross score of 95 made on a course with a RCGA Course Rating of 71.5 and a RCGA Slope Rating of 125:

Adjusted Gross Score - RCGA Course Rating: 95 - 71.5 = 23.5
Difference x Standard Slope: 23.5 x 113 = 2655.5
Result/RCGA Slope Rating: 2655.5/125 = 21.244
Handicap Differential (rounded): 21.2

b. Minus Handicap Differential
When the adjusted gross score is lower than the RCGA Course Rating, the handicap differential is a negative number. Following is an example for determining a differential using an adjusted gross score of 69 made on a course with a RCGA Course Rating of 71.5 and a RCGA Slope Rating of 125:

Adjusted Gross Score - RCGA Course Rating: 69 - 71.5 = -2.5
Difference x Standard Slope: -2.5 x 113 = -282.5
Result/RCGA Slope Rating: -282.5/125 = -2.26
Handicap Differential (rounded): -2.3

10-2. RCGA Handicap Factor Formula 

The RCGA Handicap Factor Formula is based on the best handicap differentials in a player's scoring record. If a player's scoring record contains 20 or more scores, then the best 10 handicap differentials of the most recent 20 scores are used to calculate his RCGA Handicap Factor. The percentage of scores used in a scoring record decreases from the maximum of the best 50 percent as the number of scores in the scoring record decreases. If the scoring record contains 9 or 10 scores, then only the best three scores (30 to 33 percent) in the scoring record will be used. Thus, the accuracy of a player's Handicap Factor is directly proportional to the number of acceptable scores he has posted. An RCGA Handicap Factor shall not be issued to a player who has returned fewer than five acceptable scores. The following procedure illustrates how authorized golf associations and golf clubs calculate a player's Handicap Factor if the number of acceptable scores in the player's record is less than 20.

The procedure for calculating a Handicap Factor is as follows:
(I) Use the following table to determine the number of handicap differentials to use; 

(ii) Determine handicap differentials;
(iii) Average the handicap differentials being used;
(iv) Multiply the average by .96;*
(v) Delete all numbers after the tenth digit. Do not round off to the nearest tenth.

Example 1:
11 scores available.
Total of lowest 4 handicap differentials: 103.5 Average (103.5 divided by 4): 25.875
Multiply average by .96: 24.84
Delete digits after tenths: 24.8
RCGA Handicap Factor: 24.8

Note: Bonus for Excellence is the incentive that is built into the RCGA Handicap System, for players to improve their games. It is the term used to describe the small percentage below perfect equity that is used to calculate Handicap Factors (96%). As your Handicap Factor improves (gets lower), you have a slightly better chance of placing high or winning a handicap event.

If you have any questions about Handicapping, please email Craig Loughry, Director of Handicapping; craig_loughry@gao.ca